At approximately 12:00pm a crew of two field workers stopped for lunch in a block in the American Creek area near Hope, B.C. While stopped they heard a growl and saw something moving in the bush nearby. A bear banger was shot into the air and the crew moved away from the area of encounter. At approximately 12:30pm a cougar was sighted at a distance of ~50 meters; it was growling and hissing at thecrew. Another bear banger was used to deter the cougar and the crew decided that it would be most appropriate to leave the block for the remainder of the day. It is unknown why the cougar acted aggressively towards the field crew, it may have been protecting a kill or its young, or it may have been hungry, curious, or territorial.

Learnings and Suggestions:

It was reiterated to the field crew that they acted appropriately by leaving the area once the cougar had been sighted and a threat had been identified. It was decided that crews should exercise extra caution when working in this area, and that all workers should keep a look out for fresh cougar signs. A cougar awareness and information sheet was distributed to all employees so they are aware of what to do in case of another encounter. The supervisor of the block decided that no one should work alone in this area for the remainder of the block layout. Lastly, radio communication and check in systems were reviewed to ensure that all crews work in the safest conditions possible and can respond quickly to any future encounters.